September 03, 2009

My baby

10 years ago today, our lovely boy, Alexei arrived. His birth was a bit of a shocker as I ended up under full anesthesia so unfortunately neither Roland or I saw him straight away. I have to admit I was foolishly in denial about actually having to give birth and had not bothered with classes or writing a birth plan so maybe this was fate getting it's own back.

I love the slightly cheesy quality of this studio shot. Alexei has that cheery 1940's baby look about him. He should be being pushed along in a massive pram on a bracing walk wearing something woolly and a bit itchy.

Sadly we did not take any photos in his first hours as we were so floored by the experience and we didn't have the luxury of a digital camera. So I have to hold on tightly to these precious first memories in my mind. That amazing feeling of instant recognition: he was ours and nothing could break that bond. Already it was impossible to imagine life without him.

This is one of my favourite pictures. Not of me, I might add. I look a bit sweaty –breast feeding always made me really hot and my face is chubby. But I love the blissed out full tummy expression on Alexei's face. My mum has her own word for this expression. In the Highlands of Scotland, this is known as a "boo-see" face. So cute!

Another surprise was his skin colur. At first he alternated between lovely peachy newborn and bright-red-very-cross-baby for a few weeks. Roland is a exotic mix of South American and Russian and I am a not so exotic mix of Scottish and English. I guess my Celtic genes won out - Alexei is now really pale skinned with blue eyes and freckles. Isn't Mother Nature is full of surprises when the genetics are being dished out?

The peachy baby who never slept soon turned into a curly haired scamp.

And then to a knobbly kneed little chap always ready to befriend a cat or two.

My boy who dances and turns cartwheels and should really join the circus as soon as he can.

Comments

Awww happy birthday Alexi.
Knowing you for a couple of years now i can truely say what a wonderful little oh sorry big boy you are.
A pleasure to be with and my cupcakes think your just the best lol
Hugs,
Catherine x